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How effective is the CIA at gathering intelligence in the Middle East?

by Take Two

A vehicle sits smoldering in flames after being set on fire inside the U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi late on Sept. 11, 2012. An armed mob protesting over a film they said offended Islam, attacked the U.S. consulate in Benghazi and set fire to the building, killing one American, witnesses and officials said.Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

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One of the main topics of tonight's Presidential debate will likely be the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, specifically, what the Obama administration knew, and when.

New reports show that initial CIA intelligence about the the attack was wrong, and that it took the agency at least four days to back off its preliminary analysis that the attacks were spontaneous rather than a planned assault.

The confusion over the cause and method of the attack which killed four americans raises questions about the quality of American intelligence.

Michael Scheuer, a 22-year veteran of the CIA, joins the show to discuss how his agency gathers information.

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Take Two, exclusively on 89.3 KPCC, 89.1 KUOR and 90.3 KVLA in southern California, and on 88.9 KNPR in Las Vegas, captures the spirit of the West in a conversational, informal, witty style and examines the cultural issues people are buzzing about.